Drapery shaper



March 6, 1951 B. WALTl-:Rs 2,544,516

DRAPERY SHAPER Filed March 16, 1948 14X /14 ZYX/14 Z INVENTOR. en wfs BYFCwQMLWLML HTTO'RN EY Patented Mar. 6, 1951 DRAPERY SHAPER Ben Walters, New York, N. Y.

Application March 16, 1948, Serial No. 15,191

2 Claims. (Cl. ISU-348) The present invention relates to drapery shaping devices and the like, and more particularly to an improved device for forming pleats in drapes, portires, curtains, wall hangings, etc. land for suspending the same from a support.

An object of the present invention is to provide a drapery shaper and hanger which is constructed of a minimum number of parts.

Another object is to provide a drapery shaper constructed of parts which are relatively simple and can be manufactured economically.

Still another object is to provide a drapery Shaper which is readily assembled to form pleats in the drapery or the like Without the exercise of a high degree of skill.

Yet another object is to provide a device of the foregoing character which forms attractive pleats and maintains the pleats effectively.

A further object is to provide a device of the foregoing character which permits the drapery to be moved or rearranged on its support without disturbing the pleats formed therein.

Still Aa further object is to provide a drapery shaper and hanger which is substantially concealed by the drapery when in use.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specication, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a drape supported by devices in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating one of the drapery shaping and supporting devices applied to the drape as seen from therear thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 en Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the device as seen from the top.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 on Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the device prior to being applied to the drape.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified element constituting a part of the device.

Referring to the drawing in detail and, particularly to Figure l thereof, there is shown a portion of a dr-ape I0, or the like, formed with pleats II and suspended from a bar or rod I2 by devices in accordance with the invention of which only the supporting hooks I@ are visible.

As shown in Figures 2 to 7, the device generally comprises a tubular member I5 for forming the pleats, a clip I6 for attaching the drape I 0 to the tubular member I5, land the hook I4, previously mentioned, which interconnects the clip It and the rod I2.

The tubular member I5 preferably is a cardboard or paper tube although it may be` constructed of plastic material, or metal, if desired. The tubular member is shown as having ya cylindrical side wall formed at the rear thereof with aperture means such as one or a pair of peripherally extending apertures, slots, *vor recesses Il spaced longitudinally from each other. As will be noted, the shape of the tubular member determines the shape and aesthetic eilect of the pleat, hence it will be appreciated that pleats of other shapes may be readily provided by utilizing tubular members which are triangular, rectangular, or elliptical in cross-sections, or have other forms. It is to be further noted that the recesses I1 may be mere indentations in the wall of the tubular `member I5.

The clip I6 comprises a pair of outer leg portions I9, a pair of intermediate leg'portions 2li, and a second pair of outer leg portions 2 I. Preferably, the clipis formed of one piece of relatively stiff wire bent into a generally S-like shape, with the upper ends of the portions I9 and 2l! being connected by an inverted U-portion 22, the lower ends of the portions 20 and 2| being connected by a U-portion 24 and upper ends of the portions 2I being connected to each other by an inverted U-like hook 25, the function of which will be described hereinafter. The leg portions I9 are formed With one or more projections 25, the number provided depending upon the number of aperture means, such as the slots Il, and are adapted to cooperate therewith in the manner about to be described. The leg portions I9 and 20 are closely spaced to provide a clipping or clamping effect when the side wall of the tubulal member I5 is inserted therebetween.

The hook I4 is generally S-shaped and comprises an upper hook portion 21 adapted to extend over the bar or rod I2, and a lower hook 3 portion 28 inserted through the loop 25 to support the clip I6.

In assembling the device to form the pleats in the drape, the portion of the drape in which the pleat is to be formed is positioned about the ex-` 5 terior of the tubular member I5 with the drape brought together at the rear of the tubular member substantially at the middle of the slots Il (Figures 2, 5 and 6). The clip -I6 is then applied by inserting the l'leg portions 20 and Y2l into the tubular'meinber and positioningthe leg portions I9 over the drape at the exterior of the tubular member with one of the leg portions I9 at each side of the portions of the drape which are brought towards each other (Figures 2, 5 and 6). As the clip portions I9 and 20 are disposed over the drape and tubular member, the inverted U-shaped portions 22 engage and rest upon the upper edge of the Side wall of the tubular member, thus acting as stops; and the projections 26 .-force portions of Athe'drape into the-slot orfrece'sses I1 to cooperate therewith and together Awith the leg portions, so as vto secure the drape and 'clip 1on lthe tubular lmember :in locking engagement.

When the deviceis assembled-as just described,

v`the -loop 25, becauseiof the construction andar- `rangement of the clip, is 'disposed Ajust below -the upper edge-of 'the side wall of `the tubular 'memfber `thereby 'concealing 'the clip. rI-he drape is -adapted to be-suspended, as shown'in Figure 1,'by

`inserting 'thehook portions 218 into the loop -25 and placing the hook portions .2l over -the 4'bar -:or.rod I2.

vIn Figure 8, a modiiied form of tubular .inember .I5 .is illustrated, wherein the aperture means comprises a pairvof tper-iphera'lly.spaced `apertures for=recesses -3l) and a second pairof laterally lor peripherally spaced apertures or recesses 3| -spaced longitudinally from the apertures 30. 'The apertures 39 and 3 I `are each adapted to receive a portion-of the drape forced thereinby -one of the .projections 2li ofthe clip portions I9.

`Whilelthe clip hasbeen'describedas a unitary ymember having ,pairsof portions I9, 20 and ZI,

I'it Ywill be appreciated 'thattwo clips could be A While the clip drapery shaping and suspending device which is simple and practical in construction and can be economically manufactured and can be readily applied in a simple and convenient manner. The drapery is effectively shaped and is securely retained in its assembled relation even if subjected to rough handling as may occur in its normal usage.

As various changes may be made in the form,

construction and: arrangementoftheparts herein,

without departing fromth'e spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters are tofbe interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

.1. .-A draperyshaper comprising a tubular member having aperture means in the side wall thereof, Aand a generally S-shaped clip having a pair of outer portions each provided with a projection adapted -to `cooperate with said aperture means to secure drapery to said tubular mem- :ber,^said clip having a pair of intermediate portions cooperating `with said outer portions to engage the side wall therebetween -and having a second pair of outer portions disposed in said tubular -member land formed .with a connecting loop portion at one end thereof, and a supporting 'hook having a portion engaging said loop portion.

2. A drapery shap'er comprising -a tubular member having .a pair of longitudinally spaced aperture means in the side Wallthereof, 'a generally 'S-'shaped clip havingapair of outer .portions each provided with 'a pair of projections adapted to cooperate with said 'aperture Vmeans to secure drapery to said 4tubular member, said clip having va pair vof intermediate portions cooperating with said outer portions to engage the side wall therebetween and having a second pair 'of outer portions disposed in said tubular member and formed with la 'connecting loop portion at one end thereof, and a supporting hook having a portion engaging'said loop portion.

BEN WALTERS.

REFERENCES CITED 4 'Thefollowing references are of record in the le of this patent:

'UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number IName lDate 1,158,940 Litt et al. Nov. 2, 1915 1,819,240 Harrison Aug. 18, 1931 1,863,638 Richter June 21, 1932 '1,868,944 JOles- July 26, '1932 :2,181,813 .Kaufman Nov. 28, 1939 

